What We Do

What We Do

Mindfulness Based Yoga For All

OG Yoga was founded to provide the many healing benefits of the 5,000 year-old science and art of yoga to San Diego’s most vulnerable communities. OG Yoga teaches students to focus their attention, calm their minds, reduce stress and think before reacting – tools necessary to live in today’s fast-paced world. We help students become active participants in the health and wellness of their schools and communities and be empowered to lead healthy, happy and productive lives. OG Yoga is committed to prevention of homelessness, addiction, incarceration as well as rehabilitation for those wanting to reenter community.

2015 Activities & Accomplishments (September – December)

In September of 2015, we formed the OG Yoga Advisory Board and launched our nonprofit. In the coming months, we achieved Fiscal Sponsorship through Mission Edge, an organization that invests in social interest organizations by providing operational services, fiscal sponsorship, and much more.

In our first quarter, we piloted yoga, meditation and mindfulness classes at several locations, including:

Monarch Schools for lower and middle-school youth impacted by homelessness, as well as weekly classes for parents and guardians of the students.

Twice weekly classes for WestCare Foundation’s Custody to Community Transitional Re-Entry and Rehabilitation Program (CCTRP) in partnership with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. San Diego is WestCare’s first pilot for this type of incarceration for women.

Second Chance residents and clients. Second Chance provides job readiness and life skills training, job placement, mental health services and sober-living housing for adults and youth in need. OG Yoga added to curriculum of Second Chance Job Readiness Training Program.

Converted to Network For Good Donor Management and Communication software.

First time participating in “Giving Tuesday” and “Calling All Angels” appeals.

Added Grant Writer.

MOU’s submitted and pending with Neighborhood House, Lindsay School and San Ysidro Health Center.

Grew to nine Instructors.

Testimonials

"I have a bracelet on my ankle to remind me of the biggest mistake in my life - A 5-year prison sentence for a felony DUI. I was introduced to OG YOGA at a re-entry facility after serving 3 years in other facilities. OG YOGA was truly a blessing in my healing process. They taught me to be calm during one of the most stressful situations of my life. My anxiety was reduced. The different breathing exercises and meditations fostered inner strength, drive and confidence in me that I had never encountered before. I am eternally grateful to OG YOGA for helping me find my true self. “

"OG Yoga has been so impactful for our culinary students, each of whom come from challenging backgrounds. While our students are skeptical and even resentful at first of participating in yoga classes, they leave the first class with a new found appreciation of the practice, a coping mechanism for their anger and anxiety, and a sense of calm. The yoga classes also offer an incredible physical release for our students as well, as they spend 8+ hours on their feet do physical labor in the kitchen as they train to become cooks. We are so grateful to OG Yoga for all they do for our students, and our community. "